The Arkansas Tech Career Center (ATCC) acknowledged its 40th anniversary in a celebration Thursday, where they gathered together to remember four decades of servicing and educating the community.

The celebration, which was held from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday at the ATCC located on South Knoxville near the Russellville High School, celebrated the center’s 40 years of operations since it began in 1972. It merged with the Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus in 2011 and serves 11 high schools in Pope, Yell and Johnson counties.

Students were allowed to leave class early to take part in the event, where several speakers spoke about both the history of the center and its impact on the community.

“It’s a special place in that it trains high school students in a special way. It provides education towards careers,” said Charlie Gocio, the public information coordinator at ATU Ozarks. “So we’re just going to celebrate its history more than anything.”

The ATCC offers nine industry-driven, job-specific programs that prepare high school students for immediate employment or further education, allowing students to earn concurrent college credits.

“I think the people here, people who have come here and attended school, as well as the people who have worked here as teachers, they take a lot of pride in the education and the things that the students experience,” Gocio said.

“Obviously a high school education is important, but there are other skills that are taught here. They can walk out of here and get a real-world job.”